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Impacts of Large-Scale Rare Earth Mining on Surface Runoff, Groundwater, and Evapotranspiration: A Case Study Using SWAT for the Taojiang River Basin in Southern China

Auswirkungen großer Abbauflächen Seltener Erden auf Oberflächenabfluss, Grundwasser und Evapotranspiration: Eine Fallstudie der Auswirkung auf Boden und Wasser im Taojiang Flußbecken in Südchina

Impactos de la minería de tierras raras a gran escala en escorrentía superficial, aguas subterráneas y evapotranspiración: un estudio de caso utilizando SWAT para la cuenca del río Taojiang en el sur de China

大规模稀土开采对地表径流、地下水和蒸散发的影响:以中国南方桃江流域SWAT模型为例

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Abstract

The extensive rare earth open-pit mining in the Taojiang River basin in southern China have produced a large area of bare land during the last several decades. We assessed the effects of the bare land on surface runoff, groundwater, and evapotranspiration (ET) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). A total of nine parameters were calibrated using data from 2001 to 2005 and were validated using data from 2006 to 2009, with the observed daily streamflow data as the baseline scenario. The R2 and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency index ranged between 0.75 and 0.85 through the simulation periods. Moreover, two historic and four hypothetical land-use scenarios were investigated. Based on the capacity to affect surface runoff, groundwater, and ET, the ranking of land-use types was, from highest to lowest: rare earth bare land, urban land, pasture land, and forest land. Still, due to the relatively small area involved, the rare earth mining did not significantly deteriorate the local hydrological cycle from 2005 to 2015. Protecting the forest, paying attention to urban development, and enhancing infiltration in urban areas should be the top priorities in achieving sustainable development. The presented methodology provided a reliable impact assessment of the water balance components of large-scale open-pit mining activities.

Zusammenfassung

Ausgedehnte Tagebaue Seltener Erden (SE) im Taojiang Flußgebiet in Südchina haben in den letzten Jahrzehnten große Flächen kahlen Landes erzeugt. Unter Benutzung eines Werkzeugs zur Einschätzung von Boden und Wasser (SWAT) untersuchten wir die Effekte des kahlen Landes auf Oberflächenabfluss, Grundwasser und Evapotranspiration (ET). Auf der Basis von Daten aus den Jahren 2001-2005 kalibrierten wir neun Parameter und validierten Daten aus 2006-2009, basierend auf dem Szenario täglich gemessener Abflußdaten. R2 und der Nash-Sutcliffe Effizienzindex (NSE) während der Simulation lag bei 0.75-0.85. Weiters wurde ein früheres und vier hypothetische Landnutzungsszenarien untersucht. Der Einfluß auf Oberflächenabfluss, Grundwasser und ET verschiedener Landnutzungen ergab folgende Reihenfolge, von höchsten zu niedrigsten Werten: Kahles Land der Minen Seltener Erden, städtisches Land, Weideland und Wälder. Wegen der relativ kleinen SE-Bergbaufläche ergab sich von 2005 bis 2015 keine Veränderung des lokalen hydrologischen Zyklus. Eine nachhaltige Entwicklung sollte primär den Schutz der Wälder, die Einschränkung der Urbanisierung und die Förderung der Infiltration in den städtischen Gebieten anstreben. Die vorgestellte Methode ermöglicht eine verläßliche Einschätzung der Wasserbilanzkomponenten in großen Tagebaugebieten.

Resumen

La extensa explotación minera a cielo abierto de tierras raras en la cuenca del río Taojiang en el sur de China ha producido una gran superficie de suelo desnudo durante las últimas décadas. Evaluamos los efectos de la tierra desnuda sobre la escorrentía superficial, el agua subterránea y la evapotranspiración (ET) utilizando la herramienta de evaluación de suelo y agua (SWAT). Se calibraron un total de nueve parámetros utilizando datos de 2001 a 2005 y se validaron utilizando datos de 2006 a 2009, con los datos de flujo diario observados como escenario de referencia. El R2 y el índice de eficiencia Nash-Sutcliffe (NSE) oscilaron entre 0.75-0.85 a través de los períodos de simulación. Además, se investigaron dos escenarios históricos y cuatro hipotéticos de uso de la tierra. Basándose en la capacidad de afectar la escorrentía superficial, las aguas subterráneas y ET, la clasificación de los tipos de uso de la tierra fue, de mayor a menor: tierras desnudas, tierras urbanas, tierras de pastoreo y tierras forestales. Sin embargo, debido a la relativamente pequeña área involucrada, la minería de tierras raras no deterioró significativamente el ciclo hidrológico local de 2005 a 2015. Proteger el bosque, prestar atención al desarrollo urbano y mejorar la infiltración en las áreas urbanas deberían ser las principales prioridades para lograr desarrollo sostenible. La metodología presentada proporcionó una evaluación de impacto confiable de los componentes de balance de agua de las actividades de minería a cielo abierto a gran escala.

近几十年来,中国南方桃江流域大规模稀土露天开采遗留大面积裸露土地。利用SWAT模型评价了裸露土地对地表径流、地下水和蒸散量(ET)的影响。以每日流量观测数据为基线,利用2001~2005年数据推求九个模型参数,利用2006~2009年数据完成模型验证。在整个模拟期间,R2和纳什效率指数(NSE)为0.75-0.85。此外,研究了两个历史的和四个假设的土地使用情景。基于对地表径流、地下水和ET的影响,土地利用类型由高到低排序为:稀土裸露土地、城镇用地、草地和林地。但是,由于面积相对较小,稀土开采并未明显恶化当地2005~2015年水文循环。保护森林、关注城市发展和加强城镇区降水入渗应该是实现区域可持续发展的首要任务。研究为大规模露天采矿活动区的水均衡要素评价提供了可靠方法。

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the financial support from the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2012BAC11B07), the Science and Technology for Public Wellbeing Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2013GS360203), the Training Programs for Leading Talents by Talents 555 Technology of Gan Poyang Lake of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51774153), the Cultivation of Excellent Doctoral Dissertations in Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (No. 3105500026), and the Subject of Jiangxi Education Department Science and Technology Planning of China (No. GJJ160595). We also thank the anonymous reviewers and editors for their helpful comments, which helped us to improve the quality of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Jian Liang, Kaixing Wu, Zhenya Wei, Pan Zhuo & Xianping Luo

  2. Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Environment Pollution Control of Mining and Metallurgy, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Jian Liang, Zhenya Wei & Xianping Luo

  3. Institute of Engineering Research, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Yue Li

  4. School of Architectural and Surveying and Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Qun Yan

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  1. Jian Liang
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Correspondence to Qun Yan or Xianping Luo.

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Liang, J., Wu, K., Li, Y. et al. Impacts of Large-Scale Rare Earth Mining on Surface Runoff, Groundwater, and Evapotranspiration: A Case Study Using SWAT for the Taojiang River Basin in Southern China. Mine Water Environ 38, 268–280 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-018-00587-w

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